We live in one of the most isolated towns in the UK – we’re cut off from the world
RESIDENTS living in one of the most isolated towns in the UK have opened up about what it's like to be cut off from the world.
The locals also fear they're going to become even less connected, with the future of their much-needed public transport up in the air.
Those living in Blaenau Gwent, Wales are now worried about being able to undertake basic daily tasks like working, studying and grabbing groceries should the bus services be taken away.
Two routes were already cut in 2021, with one replacing them, but its trial is coming to an end in June.
Plus, the service requires booking through an app or over the phone, which tends to discourage people.
Ella Challenger, 38, feels so passionately about the bus service that she's even set up a as she says the loss of public transport will be "catastrophic" to her community.
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The Rassau woman said she really felt for the "older generation" and those who may not be able to afford taxi prices every day.
Ella also worries about how her 16-year-old daughter will get to college come September.
She added: "She'll have no way of getting there without a bus. I don't want her walking two miles there, which takes 45 minutes on a good day, one way."
Ella also has an 18-month-old baby and relies on the bus herself when she goes food shopping with a pram.
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She claimed: "It's around £7 in a taxi for two miles down the road into Ebbw Vale town, which is expensive.
"So when we had the bus service it was great, but they're reducing them and now, come June, I don't think we'll have any buses at all - it's absolutely ridiculous."
Ivor Richards, 79, said the service was vital to the town and its people.
The man, who lives in Rassau, said: "I drive but you never know I might need to use it one day."
Ivor explained that he only used the car to travel short distances as he doesn't feel comfortable driving further afield.
Lynne Hole, 76, says the change in services had taken away her independence.
She said: "We always used a car but my husband now has dementia and we now can't get to town - we have to rely on somebody."
Now her daughter takes her shopping, or into town, once a week.
Lynne said a lot of people in the villages now feel "cut off" like her.
'THEY RELY ON BUSES'
She added: "A lot of people use the bus and I can't understand [why they stopped].
"At one time, I could get on a bus here and go all the way to Risca, where my sister lives - it was wonderful.
"I've lost all that now - I don't go out."
A mum-of-two, who asked not to be named, said she uses the bus every day to take her daughter to school.
The Rassau-based mum said: "I don't drive and we rely on the bus for everything, going to school, doctor's appointments and food shops."
She claimed she will have to walk an hour and a half to and from school every day with her two-year-old and seven-year-old, adding: "I think it will affect the older people more than anything.
"They won't be able to go to town, doctor and hospital appointments that they rely on the buses for."
'DUE TO END'
She added that Ebbw Vale is her nearest town, which is a 45-minute walk away from their home, and "many will become isolated" without affordable public transport.
A spokesperson from Blaenau Gwent council said: “There are three types of services being run at the moment: commercial routes run by private providers; services which we pay private providers a subsidy to run and the Fflecsi pilot, which has been running since June 2021.
"Covid-19 devasted bus usage so Welsh Government provided funding during the pandemic and this continued post-pandemic, through the Bus Emergency Scheme (BES).
"As of this moment this is due to end after June this year. This funding enabled private providers to remain viable whilst it was hoped passenger numbers would return to pre-pandemic numbers.
"Alongside the other 21 local authorities in Wales, we have been lobbying Welsh Government on the impact this funding reduction may have on local bus services.
"We do not know fully the impact this will have on private providers and we hope to have greater clarity on this soon.
";The Fflecsi services will continue until the end of June 2023, and we are currently in discussions with Welsh Government and Transport for Wales about hopefully continuing this service but perhaps using a different model.
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"We hope to have news on this in the coming months.”
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Transport for Wales are working with Blaenau Gwent Council to consider options for the future of the service, and will be further consulting with the local community over the next few weeks.”